The state Republican and Democratic parties are hammering local governments in St. Tammany Parish for having ordinances that the parties say impose unconstitutional restrictions on campaign signs on private property. Leaders from both parties - who are rarely on the same page - say the sign ordinances are an infringement on citizens' First Amendment rights.

In a joint news release, the two political parties say that Covington and Mandeville and St. Tammany Parish government all have laws on the books that place restrictions on the size, content, location and time period when political signs can be placed on private property. The ordinances also require prior approval of the candidates' sign design and impose fees to be paid to the government by the candidate before signs can be erected on a resident's private property.

Scott Sternberg, an attorney with the law firm of Baldwin, Haspel ,Burke & Mayer, authored letters to the three local governments on behalf of the state parties challenging what he calls unconstitutional sign ordinances. He said the fact that the Democrats and Republicans have joined forces to overturn the ordinances is a testament to their unconstitutionality.

"It's pretty clear that these ordinances violate the 1st Amendment," Sternberg said. "They are blatant content-based regulations that place a burden on citizens' expressing their political preferences on private property. We feel confident that a court would swiftly rule in our favor due to precedent from the United States Supreme Court."

The city of Covington, through its attorney Julian Rodrigue Jr., has responded to Sternberg's letter by saying it will forgo enforcement of its sign ordinance as it relates to political placards "in particular as to the permit bond, and time constraint requirements."

Covington Mayor Mike Cooper said he will ask the City Council to consider changes to the city's sign ordinance that will address the issue of political signs on private property. The city last year did a massive overhaul of its sign ordinance.

Jason Doré, executive director of the state Republican Party, said St. Tammany is being targeted because it has among the most egregious political sign laws on the books, in some cases requiring hundreds of dollars from candidates who want to erect political signs on private property.

The leaders of both parties said they hope other governments follow Covington's lead and agree not to enforce what they feel is the unconstitutional aspects of their sign ordinances. If they don't the parties may consider legal action, Doré said.

"We're very happy the city of Covington took the high road and will allow citizens to fully exercise their First Amendment rights," Doré said. "Political yard signs are a basic part of our nation's Democratic system."

Stephen Handwerk, executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party, the the issue cuts across party lines and hits at the heart of the First Amendment.

"At a time when the courts have already diluted the average citizen's political speech rights, these seemingly well-intentioned sign ordinances are a bridge too far," Handwerk said. "Whether you're a Republican or Democrat, we can all agree that the most basic forms of core political speech, such as placing a yard sign outside your home, should be protected."